Drugstore Faves

Lately I've been into budget friendly options because the holidays are coming up and spring tuition so I'm trying to save where I can, I digress. 

I have absolutely fell in love with these products and I find myself reaching for them instead of my high end options. 

1. Angel Veil from NYX COSMETICS: 

I'm truly convinced this is a dupe for Hourglass' primer (I've only received a sample but the full size is $58, no thank you). It's very light weight, it doesn't cling to my dry patches, doesn't upset my sensitive skin and it smoothes out my pores. What more do you need? It's around $10 but Ulta always has coupons! 

2. Covergirl 3 in 1 Foundation: 

This is my first product from Covergirl and I'm so glad I tried it. It's medium to full coverage and it dries down to a satin matte finish. It last all day and they have a huge color range. 

3. Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer: 

Super light weight, covers up the blueness in my inner corner and makes me look well rested. It doesn't crease and doesn't need to be set with a powder. 

4. Milani Baked Bronzer in Glow: 

The glow giver (insert heart eye emoji). This bronzer is gorg. It gives my face warmth and radiance without being too shimmery. Also doubles as an eyeshadow.  

5. Essence eyeliner in Rose Gold:

Found at Ulta for a $1.99 I repeat, a DOLLAR NINETY NINE. I use this under my eye on my lower lash line for definition without the harshness of black or brown.  

6. L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara: 

It has a rubber brush that coats, seperates and lengthens every single lash. It gives the effect of full lashes and is never clumpy. 

Xox, 

Julia 

No Makeup, Makeup

Let's just start off this post with a disclaimer:
        I am completely and utterly jealous of my friends who look absolutely beautiful without a       
        stitch of makeup on. 

Seriously though, my best friend Nicole looks so great with makeup, love you Birthday girl!

Any who. if I don't feel like doing a full face of makeup and am feeling inspired to be more natural looking and fresh; these are the products I reach for. No I don't think I look horrible without makeup, but a light layer of products just boosts my confidence. It also makes me believe the stranger sitting next to me isn't staring at my acne/under-eye bags/uneven skin.

1. L'Oreal True Match Lumi - literally the new holy grail foundation. This was a Jaclyn Hill induced purchase (thanks girl) but me oh my I can't live without it after only using it TWICE. It is so light and luminous, without being glittery. It really makes skin flawless and it doesn't look like you caked it on either. It didn't even look like I had foundation on! I can't say enough good things about it. It also covered up my acne without drawing attention to the dry skin. Can I get a amen? AMEN. It's only $10.99 btw.

2. Bare Minerals Stroke of Light - under eye brightening concealer, that's so blendable and eye opening. Seriously it looked like I had a full nights rest, and we all know that never happens. I'm not into the pots of thick concealer, I like a more hydrating, liquidy, skin like finish concealer and this one fits the bill. 

3. Hard Candy Lash Tint - this stuff makes you look like you were born with long, thick black eye lashes. It's basically a mascara, however it doesn't make them crispy or stiff. It lasts like a water proof mascara, perfect for polar wind induced tears on campus or in the sweaty summer. 

4. Stila Convertible Cheek Color in Gerbera - a cream blush that gives an alive and healthy look without the chalky texture of a powder blush. These give you such a natural flushed look that is gorgeous!

5. Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss - my lips are the color of my skin, so I need a little color. If you were lucky to be born with Snow White lips more power to you just add some chapstick! These baby lips lip balms are so hydrating but packed with a beautiful sheer color.

The key to having a fresh face starts with the base. Always take your makeup off at night and wash your face then and in the morning. I prefer Philosophy Purity face wash and an Olay moisturizer.

I hope this helps yall, xoxo

Julia

Best of 2013

I could honestly spend hours on Pinterest. Organizing my favorite outfits, kids I don't have, makeup looks, decorations for my imaginary apartment. It's pretty much the best thing that ever happened to my imagination.

ANYWAY,
I pinned all my favorite beauty products that I loved in 2013.

Go check it out at http://www.pinterest.com/juliacberger/my-favorites/

Favorite Autumn Lip Colors

Hello all! I only say Autumn because it's November, however these will carry into the holidays because two them are definitely Christmas Party worthy. I wear black and white at work so lipstick is where I can play, in conclusion yes I do wear these colors on a daily basis! Enjoy!

1. Tarte Glamazon - Inspired, Pure Performance Lipstick. The most neutral of the bunch, but so pretty and it feels like butter. Very long lasting, I would say probably 5-6 hours without re-applying.

2. Bare Minerals Pretty Amazing - Ambition. One of the Holiday Party classics. It looks like candy and reminds me of a Sugar Plum Princess or something, call me crazy. I would classify the Pretty Amazing range as hydrating Lip Lacquers. The will stay put until you take them off, literally.

3. Nars - Full Frontal, Limited Edition by Guy Bourdin. I heard angels when I picked this lipstick up. It makes me feel like an Ice Queen. Its a cool toned purple pink, the formula is great it really stays put with a semi-matte finish.

4. Too Faced - Stiletto Red. This one is a beautiful Christmas red and feels like lip balm because its so moisturizing. No nasty dry lip with this range!

5. Nars - Afghan Red. Another singing angels moment. It's the perfect wine color that was so popular in the Fall, but with this one its almost a neutral. It's perfect.

August Birchbox

It's always a good day when my Birchbox arrives, basically it feels like Christmas. Birchbox is a monthly subscription beauty box. Products in the box include beauty, hair, body and sometimes accessories. On their website you fill out a profile with your favorites and eye color, skin tone range and a couple other questions. It's wonderful for sample junkies like me looking for the latest and greatest for only $10 per month! 

The August box did not disappoint, I think I'm going to use every single product so I'm a happy girl. 

1. Fresh Feet Wipes- Jasmine Seven

Kind of a weird product but you never know when you'll need it. These wipes would be good if you were going to an overnight music festival, or just to keep in your handbag for emergencies.

2. Classic formula Tan Towel- TanTowel

Very excited about this! Kelly Ripa uses them, and she always has a great tan. Here's to hoping. It's like a baby wipe with self tanner for your face and body. Bonus: it exfoliates an moisturizes. 

3. Premium BB Cream SPF 45+ Dr. Jart 

I haven't delved to deep into the ABC creams because I like full coverage foundation but I have heard good things about this product. When I tested it on my hand it had an odd undertone but I think that is to counteract redness or under eye circles. Ill keep you posted! 

4. Party Proof Lipstick- ModelCo

Lipstickkkkkk!! My favorite thing. I received the shade Disco Fever and it is coral, like really coral. I'm going to love it. I swatched it on my hand and its a creamy, hydrating formula. Don't let the matte texture fool you. 

5. Super Comb Prep & Protect- Number 4

This stuff smells amazing. And it made my hair super soft and easy to style. It's a leave in conditioner that provides color protection and UV protection.  

Hope you enjoyed my August box as much as I am going to and already have. 

Their website is birchbox.com

Xoxo,

Julia

Sephora + Pantone Color IQ

The other day I went into Sephora, sadly a weekly occurrence, and one of the employees Tracy asked me if I wanted to do a color match. She was so sweet and her makeup was perfection.  I love finding new and exciting products so I said yes immediately. Then she says "may I take off your face makeup?" Which if she wanted an honest opinion... A.) do you know how much time I spend on my makeup. B.) I used my Dior foundation today *this makeup is staying put until I make it come off* However she totally coerced me into saying yes, this lady was a gem!  

Any-who, Tracy sat me down at the vanity and scrubbed off my many layers and then proceeded to hold a tiny camera remote looking thing up to my skin in 3 places and took pictures. Then my Pantone number popped up on the iPad 1Y05, it began to load and then this popped up:

A personalized list of foundations that match my 1y05 number!! Not just this one might match, it's an exact skin color. It evaluates the base color of your skin; yellow, pink or normal. I fell in the normal range but I had always felt I had a pink undertone, man was I wrong. She made some recommendations and based off what I said she applied the Lancôme foundation. My face seamlessly blended into my neck and looked almost air brushed. I was impressed. I was sad Laura Mercier had no match for me, but I had plenty of other options. 

 (More options for my skin tone)

The best part of this service was that she can email my complete list of dead-on matches. I suggest everyone run to Sephora and get matched it was so fun! Tracy's skin was the prettiest caramel color and she told me the Pantone camera even found her match. Run baby, run. 

Xoxo, 

Julia

Everyday Eye Makeup

Hello all! I've decided to share my everyday eye makeup, since a few people have asked me to create a tutorial. This look is great because its so natural and you can either wear a nude lip or a bold one. You can also switch your to your favorite colored shadows, or ones that work with your eye color.

1. Start off with nothing on your lids. I have applied a eye primer, MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

2. Apply a base eye shadow all over the lid, MAC Naked Lunch

3. Using a windshield wiper motion, use a medium toned shadow in your crease, Urban Decay Beware

4. Place a darker brown in the outer crease, MAC Mulch

5. With a pencil brush rub a small amount of the dark brown under the eyes

6. Apply a thin line of black liner and mascara, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner in Intense Black & Diorshow waterproof mascara

7. Viola! All done and ready.

My favorite MAC shadows

MAC Eye shadows have held a special place in my heart ever since my aunt introduced my sister and I to them almost ten years ago. Unfortunately ever since then I have looked down on drugstore dry eye shadows, whoops.

Anyways, here are my everyday favorites:

1. All That Glitters- a gorgeous pink-tan all over the lid color. Its a good base for any skin tone, without being too glittery. It just has a nice luminous satin finish.

2. Soba- my newest and favorite addition! Soba looks incredible on the lid and blended into the crease or just as a crease color. It's also a good bottom lash definer! 

3. Woodwinked- a copper bronze shimmer that compliments my blue eyes beautifully. Every time I wear this shadow someone tells me how blue my eyes are so it's a winner in my book. 

4. Mulch- my favorite crease color that is a straight up brown with no purple undertones. It's great blended with Woodwinked, All That Glitters or even a lighter shadow. 

MAC shadows are incredibly pigmented and they last all day, without a primer and at $9 a pop that means a lot to me.  Another one slowly creeping up on my favorites is Naked Lunch. My shadows are all placed into a 4 quad which is customizable with your own colors. What are your cult classics? 

Xo,

Julia

Cream Shadows

Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadows are definitely the best makeup on the market right now! They are so creamy and easy to apply. Best of all there are no chunks of glitter, and your lids are left with a luminous butter soft finish that lasts all day. My favorites include... 

Pomegranate Punk which is a reddish mauve that brings out the best in blue and green eyes. This one looks pretty spread all over the lid and blended upward. It also can be smudged on the lower lash line for definition. 

Barely Branded is up next! This is one of the more versatile colors but not only for one skin tone. It can be placed in the inner corner, brow bone and the cheek bones for a highlight. It's pearly but not too white it blends into any skin color. 

Bad To The Bronze is my absolute favorite! Sometimes I use it as eye liner but it is also amazing as a one stop smokey brown eye. Everyone wants an everyday smokey look and it is so easy to achieve with this shadow. You just blend it all over the lid and in the crease and for some reason when put into the crease it gets a little darker. It's perfect, it's a cool toned bronze so it doesn't look muddy on the skin. 

Enjoy! Xo,

Julia